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Sports Biz: Tour and Travelers Ink Deal

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HARTFORD, CT – (Official News Release) – The Travelers Companies, Inc. and PGA TOUR  announced that they have reached an agreement to extend Travelers’ title sponsorship of the Travelers Championship through 2030. The company has been a partner of the tournament since its inception in 1952 and has served as title sponsor since 2007. This agreement will make Travelers the longest-running title sponsor in the event’s history.

As part of the sponsorship extension, Travelers will remain the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour.

“So many historic and exciting moments in golf have happened at the Travelers Championship over the years, but it’s the amazing moments that are made off the course that capture the real value of our hometown tournament,” said Alan Schnitzer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Travelers. “As a company rooted in taking care of its customers and communities, the charitable mission of the Travelers Championship reflects who we are as an organization. This tournament is important to so many people across the region – both as an economic driver for the state and as a funding source for hundreds of charities – and we are proud to continue its legacy for years to come.”

Since Travelers became title sponsor, the tournament has generated more than $20 million for nearly 800 nonprofits. All net proceeds from the Travelers Championship go to charity, and the funds raised each year have increased substantially, from $650,000 in 2007 to $2.1 million in 2019. The 2020 Travelers Championship, held as a TV-only event due to COVID-19 restrictions, generated more than $1.6 million.

“The Travelers Championship has established itself as a premier PGA TOUR event, thanks to the inspirational leadership provided by Travelers, the dedication of thousands of volunteers and the passionate fans who watch or attend every year,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Connecticut and the PGA TOUR are fortunate to have a company like Travelers that helps deliver an outstanding experience every year for our players, for golf fans and for local nonprofits. We are extremely excited about the future of the Travelers Championship.”

The tournament has been recognized with 15 “Best Of” awards from the PGA TOUR over the past several years, including Tournament of the Year in 2017, Players Choice in 2017 and 2018, and Most Fan Friendly Event in 2010, 2012 and 2017.

“The Travelers Championship wouldn’t be possible without the overwhelming support we receive from people across the state and the thousands of volunteers who help each year,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “The event may be branded with our company name, but this is really Connecticut’s tournament. Together, we have made it one of the best stops on the PGA TOUR for players and fans.”

With Travelers as title sponsor, many significant enhancements have been made at TPC River Highlands, including the addition of a 23-acre practice facility, a multimillion-dollar course improvement project and a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, which opened prior to the 2019 Travelers Championship. The tournament purse has also increased by $200,000 annually for six straight years, reaching $7.4 million in 2020.

PGA Tour: WGC Dell Tech Match Play & Corales Puntacana Champ Wrap-Up

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By TERRY LYONS

It was a big weekend in PGA Tour golf with two tournaments in play, including the prestigious World Golf Championship – Dell Technologies Match Play competition in Austin, Texas. There was an interesting suggestion that the PGA Tour consider adding a “real” fifth major and making it a Match Play event. (The PLAYERS Championship has long been considered the “fifth” major).

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Here’s the weekend round-up:

World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play Review & Notes

Billy Horschel defeated Scottie Scheffler in the Championship Match, 2 and 1, to earn his sixth career PGA Tour victory and first individual title since the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas.

Horschel has a win and runner-up in the first two World Golf Championships events of the season (T-2) at the WGCWorkday Championship at The Concession). Scottie Scheffler also finished in the top five at both those events.

With the win, Horschel becomes fully exempt on the PGA TOUR through the 2023-24 season.

Scheffler’s runner-up marks his career-best finish on TOUR

With his victory in the Consolation Match, 2013 champion Matt Kucharcollected his 34th match win, to draw to within two of Tiger Woods’ tournament record.

Corales Puntacana Championship: Review & Notes

Joel Dahmen won his first title in his 111th career start on Tour, at the age of 33 years, 4 months, 17 days. Dahmen opened his final round with four birdies en route to a front-nine 32. He played the back nine in 7-under this week as his only hiccups came during the final round with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 14.

Rafael Campos finished with a career-best T-2 in his 37th Tour start.

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World Golf Championship Reaches Final Four(somes)

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AUSTIN – Today is the Final Four of the World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play tournament. The Semifinals to be played this morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match (third place) this afternoon.

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WGC “Final Four(some)” Notes:

The Final Four(somes) Match Play begins with Tee Times at 10:05am EDT/9:05am (local) with Victor Perez facing Billy Horschel and continue at 10:20am EDT/9:20am (local) with Matt Kuchar and Scottie Scheffler – (link)

Semifinals Matches

9:05 a.m. – Victor Perez (31) vs. Billy Horschel (32)

9:20 a.m. – Scottie Scheffler (30) vs. Matt Kuchar (52)

Single-Elimination Format

Sunday morning: Semifinals; Sunday afternoon: Championship Match and Consolation Match

Weather: Warm and humid with a high of 85. Wind S 8-16 mph.

Notebook:

With a 4-and-3 victory over Sergio Garcia, Victor Perez is trying to become the first player since Geoff Ogilvy (2006) to win the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in his tournament debut.

With wins by Scottie Scheffler and Perez, the total jumps to five players who’ve advanced to the Semifinals in their tournament debut since Austin Country Club began hosting the event in 2016: (Lucas Bjerregaard/2019/4th, Jon Rahm/2017/2nd Hideto Tanihara/2017/4th).

With Jon Rahm’s loss, the Semifinals will not include one of the top-16 seeds for the first time since the event introduced the group play format in 2015.

Billy Horschel outlasted Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff, with Horschel making a par-5 on the 12th hole to advance after an errant Fleetwood tee shot cost him a stroke penalty.

Of the 17 countries represented in the field, only two remain:

o United States – Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler, Matt Kuchar

o France – Victor Perez

Match Play Recaps:

Round of 16 Matches

Tommy Fleetwood (21) def. Dylan Frittelli (64), 4 and 3

Billy Horschel (32) def. Kevin Streelman (53), 3 and 1

Sergio Garcia (39) def. Mackenzie Hughes (48), 2 and 1

Victor Perez (31) def. Robert MacIntyre (41), 5 and 4

Scottie Scheffler (30) def. Ian Poulter (60), 5 and 4

Jon Rahm (3) def. Erik van Rooyen (62), 3 and 2

Brian Harman (54) def. Bubba Watson (55), 2 and 1

Matt Kuchar (52) def. Jordan Spieth (49)

Quarterfinal Matches

Billy Horschel (32) def. Tommy Fleetwood (21), playoff

Victor Perez (31) def. Sergio Garcia (39), 4 and 3

Scottie Scheffler (30) def. Jon Rahm (3), 3 and 1

Matt Kuchar (52) def. Brian Harman (54), 2 and 1

PGA Tour: Corales Championship Round-Up

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Tournament co-leader Joel Dahmen has played the back nine in 9-under this week in search of first Tour title in his 111th start.

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The 2016 Masters Tournament champion, Danny Willett, shot a (67) and seeks his second Tour title to join his triumph at Augusta National.

After shooting an opening round (73), Michael Gligic carded his second consecutive bogey-free round while seeking first Tour title in his 36th start. He and Willett are only one stroke back.

Puntacana Resort ambassador Emiliano Grillo (T-5) at (-8) carded nine birdies in first 15 holes, tying his career-most in a round, before closing bogey-par-bogey en route to 7-under (65). The round marked his sixth outing of 65 or better this season.

Leaderboard at Corales Championship

Joel Dahmen 67-71-68—206 (-10)

Rafael Campos 68-69-69—206 (-10)

Danny Willett 70-70-67—207 (-9)

Michael Gligic 73-66-68—207 (-9)

 

PGA Tour: World Golf Championship

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World Golf Championship Dell Tech Match Play

Today is the Round of 16 of the World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play tournament along with the Quarterfinals to be played this afternoon. The Semifinals will be Sunday morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match (third place) on Sunday afternoon.

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WGC “Sweet 16” Notes:

The Round of 16 Matches with Tee Times begin at 8:35am EDT/7:35am (local) with Tommy Fleetwood taking on Dylan Frittelli and continue until Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth tee-it-up at 9:52am EDT/8:52am local – (link)

A tournament-record eight playoffs were needed to decide group winners (previous record: 5, 2017).

In dramatic fashion, Sergio Garcia aced one from 161 yards on the fourth playoff hole (No. 4) to defeat Lee Westwood and earn his third consecutive trip to the Round of 16.

Jon Rahm (3) is the only top seed from the 16 groups to advance to the Round of 16.

Eight of the 16 groups were won by the lowest-seeded player.

Five of the 22 players making their first appearance at the event won their group: Scottie Scheffler (30), Victor Perez (31), Robert MacIntyre (41), Mackenzie Hughes (48) and Erik van Rooyen (62).

PGA Tour: Moving Day in the D.R.

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Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

Rafael Campos (-7) posted a bogey-free 3-under (69) to hold second 36-hole lead/co-lead of his career (2016 Puerto Rico Open T-8). Campos is seeking his first Tour win in just his 37th start as he’s among a three-way tie for lead after two rounds.

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Paraguay native Fabrizio Zanotti and sponsor exemption Justin Suh hold 36-hole lead/co-lead for first time in their careers while Andrew Yun is attempting to become third Monday qualifier to win on Tour in last 35 years. Yan is T-6 (-5), only two strokes back.

Following a 6-under (66) in round one that included a hole-in-one at No. 2, Stephan Jaeger sits T-6 at 5-under along with Yun.

Tyler Duncan (T-4) at (-6) shot back-to-back rounds of (69), marking his best start at the event (MC/2018, T-59/2019).

Leaderboard at Corales Championship

Rafael Campos 68-69—137 (-7)

Fabrizio Zanotti 69-68—137 (-7)

Justin Suh 68-69—138 (-7)

Tyler Duncan 69-69—138 (-6)

Joel Dahmen 67-71—138 (-6)

WGC: Final Round to Decide “Sweet 16”

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AUSTIN – Today is the final round of preliminary Group Match Play. One player from each of the 16 (four player) groups will advance by this evening.

The Round of 16 will be played Saturday morning, followed by the Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. The Semifinals will be Sunday morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match (third place) on Sunday afternoon.

WGC Opening Round Notes:

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Defending champion Kevin Kisner defeated Justin Thomas, 2 and 1. Kisner is 2-0-0 entering today’s final match for “Sweet 16” qualification and has won his last eight matches in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, which represents the longest current streak since Tiger Woods posted the tournament record with 13 straight wins. Thomas is 0-2 in the group.

Ten players are undefeated through two rounds of group play (by seed): Jon Rahm (3), Patrick Cantlay (10), Ryan Palmer (24), Abraham Ancer (27), Kevin Kisner (34), Sergio Garcia (39), Mackenzie Hughes (48), Matt Kuchar (52), Ian Poulter (60) and Dylan Frittelli (64).

Included within those winners, two of the 22 players making their first appearance at the event are undefeated through two rounds of group play. They are: Mackenzie Hughes (48) and Dylan Frittelli (64).

Reigning FedExCup champion Dustin Johnson eagled the par-5 16th and birdied the par-3 17th to pull even with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre before the two matched pars on No. 18, resulting in a tie for their match. Johnson, the 2017 WGC tournament champion, failed to advance out of group play in 2018 and 2019.

World Golf Champ – Dell Technologies Match Play

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AUSTIN – The 64-player WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play field is divided into 16 four-player groups. Each group will play roundrobin matches within their group on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Players receive one point for a victory, ½ point for a tie and zero points for a loss.

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The player with the best record in each of the four-player groups advances to the Round of 16 for single-elimination match play. In the event two players are tied in points following the completion of group play, those players will have a suddendeath hole-by-hole-playoff starting on No. 1. If three or more players are involved, it will be a stroke-play hole-by-hole playoff.

The Round of 16 will be played Saturday morning, followed by the Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. The Semifinals will be Sunday morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match(third place) on Sunday afternoon.

The top seed for each of the 16 four-player groups are the top 16 players in order of their position in the Official World Golf Ranking. The remaining three players in each group were determined by a blind draw from each of the three pools depending on their standing in the world rankings.

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WGC Opening Round Notes:

On Wednesday, the top-16 group seeds went 6-6-4 in the first round. The top-seeded player to lose was Justin Thomas (No. 2) while Dylan Frittelli, seeded (No. 64), won his opening match.

Of the 22 players making their first appearance at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, 13 went on to claim at least a ½ point in their opening match. Geoff Ogilvy (2006) was the last player to win the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in his first event.

In his bid for a seventh World Golf Championships title, reigning FedExCup champion and No. 1 seed Dustin Johnson defeated Adam Long, 2-up while defending champion Kevin Kisner defeated Louis Oosthuizen, 2 and 1.

2010 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play winner Ian Poulter won five consecutive holes (Nos. 9-13) to defeat Rory McIlroy, 6 and 5, in his 30th match in 15 starts of the match play event. Wednesday’s round also marked the fourth occasion in 12 starts that McIlroy, the 2015 champion, has lost an opening match (2013, 2017, 2018 and 2021). McIlroy’s biggest loss in any match was 8 and 7 to Ben Crane in round two of 2011.

Match Play Recaps:

All of Wednesday’s opening round matches recapped: (link)

Tournament Site: (link)

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: World Golf Championship 

COURSE: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @DellMatchPlay

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26: 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 – Early coverage on Golf Channel from 10:00am to 2:00pm and the switch to NBC for 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Saturday and 3:00pm to 7:00pm EDT on Sunday.

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups on Thursday and Friday from 10:15am to 8:00pm (EDT); Saturday from (8:30am-2:00pm (EDT) only.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Thursday – Friday – 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT); then Saturday, March 27 from 10:00am to 6:00pm EDT and Sunday, March 28: (11:00am to 7:00pm (EDT)) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

PGA Tour: Match Play Starts Today

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AUSTIN – PGA Tour play this week consists of two tournaments. Starting today, the best of the best compete at the World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Championship. Tomorrow, the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship begins with a B-list of professionals playing in the Dominican Republic. Here’s a look at both tournaments:

Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship

The Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship is the first PGA Tour event to be held in the Dominican Republic and it is now in its fourth year, with Brice Garnett claiming victory in its inaugural year of 2018, Graeme McDowell in 2019 and Hudson Swafford winning in 2020. Prior to 2018, the tournament had a two-year stint on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule where the winners were Dominic Bozzelli and Nate Lashley.

The field playing Thursday through Sunday in the Dominican Republic includes each of the five players who have victories at the Corales Golf Course, including Lashley (2017) and Bozzelli, who won the tournament as a Korn Ferry Tour title in (2016).

This is the first of three tournaments (U.S. Open, Masters) to be contested twice in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season which marks first time an event has been played twice in the same season in the last 70 years.

Brandon Hagy, who made the largest jump in the FedExCup (No. 178 to No. 77; 101 spots) with his runner-up at last week’s Honda Classic, will make his second start in the event (MC/2020).

The field includes some golf luminaries.

World Golf Hall of Fame members: Retief Goosen, Davis Love III

Five major champions: Retief Goosen (2001 & 2004 U.S. Open), Padraig Harrington (2007 & 2008 The Open Championship, 2008 PGA Championship), Davis Love III (1997 PGA Championship), Graeme McDowell (2010 U.S. Open), Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters Championship), Danny Willett (2016 Masters Tournament).

Grupo Puntacana, which owns and operates Puntacana Resort & Club, serves as the host organization while the Corales Course is the tournament venue.

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Champ

COURSE: Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio

YARDS/PAR: 7,670 yards/Par 72

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $3,000,000/$540,000

DEFENDING Champion: Hudson Swafford – (Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS of Event: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner Share: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup #CoralesChampionship @CoralesChamp

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26: 10:00am to 1:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. Saturday, March 27 10:00am to 5:00pm EDT on Golf Channel. and Sunday, March 28 – 2:30pm to 5:30pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. (WGC on NBC during those times).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will stream WGC.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Will cover WGC.

TEE TIMES: (link)

WEATHER: A few isolated showers with temperatures 71-84 degrees. Winds E-to-NE at 8-15 mph. Similar forecast for Friday-to-Sunday with winds 11-22 mph. 20% chance of rain.

The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, the only official head-to-head match play event on the PGA Tour schedule, returns to the PGA TOUR schedule after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This week, 64 of the top 69 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of March 15 are in the field, including every player in the Top 10.

Reigning FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is seeking his seventh WGC victory. Johnson’s six WGC titles are second only to Tiger Woods (18). The 2018 WGC semifinalist Justin Thomas is making his first start on Tour since winning THE PLAYERS Championship.

There are five players who qualified but will not compete: Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Gary Woodland.

Is Match Play a different game? Maybe so as no player has won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and gone on to win the FedExCup in the same season (best result: Luke Donald, (No. 3) in 2011.

Back in 2019: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion Kevin Kisner holed a 20-foot birdie putt to close out Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2, to capture his third PGA Tour title and first World Golf Championships victory. In the 2019-20 season, the South Carolina native made 21 starts, qualified for each of the three FedExCup Playoffs events and finished No. 23 in the FedExCup standings.

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PGA Tour: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Preview

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AUSTIN – The World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, the only official head-to-head match play event on the PGA Tour schedule, returns to the PGA TOUR schedule after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This week, 64 of the top 69 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (as of March 15) are in the field, including every player in the Top 10.

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Reigning FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson is seeking his seventh WGC victory. Johnson’s six WGC titles are second only to Tiger Woods (18). The 2018 WGC semifinalist Justin Thomas is making his first start on Tour since winning THE PLAYERS Championship.

There are five players who qualified but will not compete: Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods, Gary Woodland.

Is Match Play a different game? Maybe so as no player has won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and gone on to win the FedExCup in the same season (best result: Luke Donald, (No. 3) in 2011.

Back in 2019: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play champion Kevin Kisner holed a 20-foot birdie putt to close out Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2, to capture his third PGA Tour title and first World Golf Championships victory. In the 2019-20 season, the South Carolina native made 21 starts, qualified for each of the three FedExCup Playoffs events and finished No. 23 in the FedExCup standings.

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: World Golf Championship

COURSE: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas

ARCHITECTS: Pete Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,108 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $10,500,000/$1,800,000

DEFENDING Champion (2019) Kevin Kisner – (Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS of Event: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner Share: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @DellMatchPlay

TV COVERAGE: Wednesday, March 24 – Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26: 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 – Early coverage on Golf Channel from 10:00am to 2:00pm and the switch to NBC for 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Saturday and 3:00pm to 7:00pm EDT on Sunday.

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups on Wednesday-Thursday and Friday from 10:15am to 8:00pm (EDT); Saturday from (8:30am-2:00pm (EDT) only.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Wednesday –Thursday – Friday – 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT); then Saturday, March 27 from 10:00am to 6:00pm EDT and Sunday, March 28: (11:00am to 7:00pm (EDT)) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.